Nayakkarpatti Tungsten Block: a Fierce Collision Between Development and Protection

According to China Tungsten Online, the Nayakkarpatti tungsten block in Tamil Nadu has recently garnered significant attention due to its overlap with the Arittapatti biopersity heritage site, sparking debates over ecological and cultural preservation.

Recently, K. Annamalai, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led a delegation of farmers from the Madurai region to New Delhi to meet with G. Kishan Reddy, India's Minister of Coal and Mines, to discuss the tungsten block issue. Following the meeting, the central government announced the cancellation of the auction for the Nayakkarpatti tungsten block.

The Nayakkarpatti tungsten block is located in Tamil Nadu, covering an area of 20.16 square kilometers and encompassing villages such as Kavattayampatty, Ettimangalam, and Arittapatti. Mining activities in this area can only proceed after obtaining forest and environmental clearances, with strict prohibitions on operations in sensitive zones such as biopersity heritage sites.

The Arittapatti biopersity heritage site, situated in the Madurai region, includes the villages of Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram. This area holds immense ecological value, hosting 250 bird species, including rare ones like the Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle. It is also home to wildlife such as Indian pangolins, slow lorises, and pythons.

Arittapatti is rich in water resources, notably the Anaikondan Lake, a significant water body constructed during the Pandya Dynasty. Culturally, the region boasts ancient relics, including megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jain caves, and rock-cut temples.

Tungsten, classified as a critical and strategic mineral, plays a vital role in national development. Its high melting point and exceptional strength make it indispensable in industrial manufacturing, particularly for producing high-end cutting tools that enhance precision and efficiency in mechanical processing, thereby advancing the manufacturing sector.

In the defense sector, tungsten's excellent corrosion resistance and thermal stability make it a key material for manufacturing military equipment such as armor-piercing projectiles, bolstering national defense capabilities and ensuring security. In aerospace, tungsten is crucial for manufacturing critical components that ensure the stable operation of aircraft under extreme conditions.

In today's era of technological competition, the rational development and utilization of tungsten resources are essential for maintaining industrial competitiveness, enhancing national defense security, and promoting advancements in cutting-edge technologies like aerospace.

Globally, tungsten supply is heavily reliant on China, which accounts for over 80% of global production. In India, tungsten resources are primarily distributed in Karnataka (42%), Rajasthan (27%), Andhra Pradesh (17%), and Maharashtra (9%), with smaller deposits in Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

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